Hey Tommy,
Ya done good!
I'll send something off soon to "back you up".
Can you give us the addresses for all the "cc"s?
WRB
--
On Jun 23, 2010, at 17:40, JThomas Terry wrote:
After a couple of days, there doesn’t seem to be much new information
on the supposed banning of 121.5 ELTs in August. The FCC, as far as I
know at this time, has not denied the alleged ban, but they have not
admitted it either. Either way, I really do not think it can be done
quite as quickly as the first reports indicated. Given the lack of
comment by the FCC, I feel that they are up to something. With that
in mind, I wrote the following letter to the FCC. I’m sure it isn’t
perfect but feel free to use it as is or as food for thought to write
your own.
Tommy
N93929
Chairman Julius Genachowski
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
Sir:
Recent reports concerning the FCC’s decision to prohibit use of
Emergency Locator Transmitters on 121.5 MHz are alarming. We all know
that these ELTs are not tremendously dependable or accurate and I do
not think anyone will argue that the potential of the 406 MHz Elts
promises to be far superior. However, the reports being circulated,
and to my knowledge not denied by your agency, are indicating a very
short time for the retirement of the 121.5 ELTs. Sir, this is not
practical in many aspects:
1. Production and delivery.
Can the manufacturers of the 406 ELTs produce 100,000 units in time to
meet the rumored retirement date of August?
2. Installation.
Given the down turn in general aviation maintenance facilities; can
100,000 units be installed by the retirement date?
3. Cost.
Currently an ELT operating on 121.5 MHz can be bought for as little as
$200.00. However, the cheapest 406 MHz ELT I have personally been
able to locate will cost approximately $800.00 by the time it is
delivered and another $200 for installation. This is a minimum cost
of $1000.00 for each and every general aviation aircraft in the
country. This will mean an outlay of approximately $100000000.00 (One
Hundred Million Dollars) from a segment of our economy that is already
struggling if not dying. If so, to what or who’s benefit?
4. Triple frequency units.
In recent years there have been many triple frequency units sold and
installed. These units operate on 121.5 MHz, 243.0 MHz, and 406 MHz.
Does this new regulation ban those new units because they transmit on
121.5?
5. Search equipment.
Who will be responsible for re-equipping all search aircraft and
ground teams with new radio signal direction finding equipment?
6. Reliability.
Even with all of its short comings and problems 121.5 or some other
ground based and ground searched signal must be maintained. As good
as the satellite systems are; there are times and places where the
satellites just cannot be “seen.”
Even when the 121.5MHz ELT’s were being monitored by satellite, many
signals were reported by other aircraft that were later or never heard
by the satellites.
On the subject of cost: Does the FCC plan on issuing vouchers for the
replacement units, similar to those issued for television converters
boxes? That is only logical since this change will apparently be
mandated without any concern for those it affects. Personally, I
would be willing to meet half way as my ELT is not new and I would
eventually have to replace it anyhow.
All things considered, from my perspective and probably that of about
600,000 others; this new proposal is extremely short-sighted and it is
clear your commission has not thought this new regulation completely
through. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any
questions concerning my comments.
Copies:
Hon. Henry Cuellar, U.S. House of Representatives
Mr. Craig Fuller, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Mr. Tom Poberezny, Experimental Aircraft Association
Mr. Skip Carden, Ercoupe Owners Club
Commissioner Michael J. Copps
Commissioner Robert McDowell
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn
Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker
